Chapter 12
Downpour
Fyn and Stybs traveled well into the night that first day away from the burrow on their quest to see the ocean. Fyn wasn’t sure if anyone would come looking for them out on the surface, but he didn’t want to take the chance that a search party would catch up to them and force them to go back. Nobody probably even knew where they were, much less the direction they’d be traveling, but Fyn still didn’t let them stop until well past midnight.
He had also been worried that Stybs would complain the whole way and keep saying how stupid this idea was. Fyn didn’t know if he could bear hearing that, for after the first hour of traveling when the sun set and the world became dark, Fyn started to wonder if this really was a stupid idea. If Stybs had continued his argument that they shouldn’t be doing this, Fyn didn’t know if he’d be able to hold to his path and not turn back. But fortunately, Stybs didn’t really say anything while they traveled, and Fyn kept moving forward. I hope I don’t come to regret this idea.
That thought was too late now, though; they were on their way. Of course, Fyn assumed they would probably only have to endure one or two more days of traveling before they reached the ocean. That’s what his family-brother had told him, and really, it was the only thing Fyn had to go off of. But even if it took a week to get to the water, Fyn wouldn’t have let that stop him. He was doing this for his family-brother because now that Martys couldn’t do it himself, Fyn had to live out this dream for him. And maybe this way I can get my own dreams back.
That first night out in the open, on the surface, was both exhilarating and terrifying for Fyn. There was so much space, so much openness, that Fyn felt completely exposed, completely vulnerable. There were noises in the night, insects and animals and who knew what else, and though Fyn found it fascinating, the unknown of what lay in the darkness kept him tense the whole time.
Stybs seemed to be feeling the same way for neither of them got much sleep that night. They had built a small fire and then tried to practice controlling the flames with Magick, but they quickly became too tired. Even though they hadn’t traveled very far that first day, the toll of starting this journey had definitely settled on both of them. For Fyn especially, after all that had happened since the death of his family-brother had left him physically and, even more so, emotionally tired. And using Magick took a large amount of concentration and mental strength, both of which he did not have an abundance of at the moment.
When Fyn finally drifted off to sleep that night the last thing he remembered seeing were the stars overhead, sparkling across the vast ocean that was the sky. He had heard of the stars, like he had heard of many things, but he’d never seen them before. He felt so small under the great tapestry of the heavens. Even after he closed his eyes, it comforted him to know the stars were there above him; to know that they really did exist. I wonder if the ocean will be this beautiful.
The next morning, Fyn woke to a cold drop of water hitting his face. His eyes came open slowly, drearily, as another wet droplet splashed against his skin. He looked to the sky, but instead of finding stars, only gray clouds filled his view.
“What’s happening?” Stybs asked frantically, sitting up nearby. “What is this?”
Fyn smiled. “Rain.”
“Rain?” Stybs said in equal wonder and puzzlement.
Like the stars, Fyn had heard of rain but had never experienced it first hand. He stood with Stybs, and they both turned their faces to the heavens and let the cool drops of water run down their faces. They even laughed as they tried to catch the rain with their tongues. But as more rain begin to fall and Fyn had trouble now looking up at the sky because of all the water falling on his face, he realized the thrill of seeing rain for the first time would be short lived.
Stybs seemed to have come to the same conclusion because their smiles disappeared together, and they quickly went about gathering their belongings and starting off. They only had one pack between them, so they loaded their food into it and took turns carrying the weight throughout the day.
As they traveled, Fyn did his best to steer them due east, but with the sun hidden from sight, Fyn couldn’t be sure of his directions. The world became darker as the clouds overhead thickened and the rain fell even harder. Soon Fyn and Stybs were soaked through, and all they could do was keep their heads down and press on.
At one point, Stybs finally called out to Fyn. “We should find a place to stop. We can’t keep going in this weather.”
“Just a little farther,” Fyn urged. “Maybe the rain will stop soon.”
But after another hour, if anything, the rain had only gotten worse. Stybs called out to him again, suggesting they take shelter. Fyn didn’t want to stop though. He feared if they stopped and waited for the rain to let up, they could be waiting for the rest of the day and even the next day, and then they wouldn’t have any provisions left to continue their journey. I wonder if that’s what Stybs is hoping for.
Finally, however, Fyn had to agree that they needed to stop and decided they’d take shelter in the next place that would provide them with a reprieve from the storm. Fyn would rather risk them going through their provisions then one of them getting sick. Then we’d have to go back.
Nearly another hour later, Stybs spotted an overhang in the side of one of the hills nearby. They scrambled up the already muddy slope of the hill and stumbled inside, thankful to be out of the rain. The overhang actually went farther into the hill than they had thought, and there was even a tunnel at the far end that ran off into darkness. But this was no Naalym tunnel, and Fyn was in no mood to go exploring. So he and Stybs built a fire near the opening and settled in.
On a day like this Fyn realized just how useful Magick could be. With everything soaked through, Magick was the only way they could get the sticks and pieces of wood they’d found in a nearby bush to catch fire. And then Stybs made the flames give off a little extra heat until the two of them were good and dry. It must have been around lunch time as well, so they pulled out out their provisions and had a bite to eat as the rain drummed down on the grasslands just outside their shelter. Now, we just have to wait it out. I hope this doesn’t take too long.
Fyn looked out at the world from his vantage point, and after a time, he was left with only the sound of the rain, the crackling of the fire, and the steady breathing of Stybs fast asleep. The scene was so peaceful Fyn’s own eyes begin to get heavy, though he did try to stop sleep’s pull. He wanted to be awake as soon as the storm cleared, so he could get them back on the road without more of a delay than was necessary. But his eyes wouldn’t obey his will.
Then, however, a sound caught his attention. He thought at first that maybe it was the start of a dream, but Fyn realized he hadn’t quite passed into that realm of unreality. The sound came again, and Fyn managed to pry his eyes open. The noise was coming from the dark tunnel at the other end of the cave. It was a soft scraping sound like someone running their foot across the dirt.
Fyn pulled himself off the ground, wondering what the sound was. He thought maybe it was the wind blowing through the tunnels or water running down from above. As he stood there trying to figure it out the sound died away again and everything became still.
Fyn assumed it was nothing and was about to turn back to the fire when the sound came again. And this time the scraping was quicker. It was growing louder as well. Fyn knew at once that this was not the wind. Something was making the sound, and that something was coming their way.
“Stybs!” Fyn shouted immediately, grabbing the pack they shared. “Get up! We’ve got to go!”
Stybs blinked his eyes open and looked somewhat irritated at having been woken up. “What ya yelling about?”
“We have to get outta here. Now!” Fyn said urgently. “Something’s coming.”
Then Stybs noticed the sound echoing out of the dark tunnel. He looked to Fyn with fear in his eyes. Fyn didn’t know what was speeding towards them, but he couldn’t think of
anything good. And now the sound was even louder, reverberating off the walls.
Fyn pulled Stybs off the ground. “Move!” he shouted.
But then Fyn saw what was creating the sound as it emerged from the darkness. He saw the piercing yellow eyes with the black vertical slits. He saw the forked tongue, red like blood, lash out of a mouth that contained fangs large enough to pierce Fyn in the chest and come out the other side. He saw the reptile, the great serpent that was supposed to live only in nightmares and stories to scare young Naalyms. But here it is in the flesh!
The snake opened its immense jaw, and Fyn looked down its throat to his doom. But this wasn’t the way he wanted to die. He wasn’t ready to follow his family-brother. Not yet.
Fyn grabbed Stybs, who was petrified with shock, and hurled them both out of the cave and back into the rain. They landed below the opening of the overhang on the slick slope of the hill. Fyn saw the snake burst into the sky above them, its jaw clamping shut on what it thought would be its lunchtime meal. Not such easy prey, are we?!
Fyn and Stybs were now sliding and rolling down the muddy hill, unable to stop. Every other tumble, Fyn saw the snake continue out of the cave, its long body slithering back and forth down the hill after them.
They finally reached the bottom of the hill and landed head first into a small river that had formed from the downpour. Fyn sputtered and splashed to the surface trying to breathe. The temporary river was not deep, but its current made it hard for Fyn to get to his feet. And Stybs was still struggling just to get his head out of the water. Then Fyn turned and saw with horror that the snake was almost upon them.
Fyn knew there was only one thing that could save them now. He had to use Magick. He had to use the power that had been instilled in every Naalym. But this wasn’t practice with flames and fire; this was the real thing. He needed the Elements. He needed nature to provide him with a weapon. And on a day like this, nature had definitely provided one.
The snake struck. Its mouth opened wide, and its fangs dripped with venom that would kill Fyn in case the actual bite wounds didn’t get him first. But with its jaw completely open, Fyn saw his advantage. This is my chance.
With his mind clear, Fyn felt the water flowing swiftly past him on all sides. He felt the river and asked for its help. He asked for it to share its energy with him. He asked to connect to it, so they could be one. I must be the Element.
Then Fyn threw his hands forward, pushing the water with his mind. And suddenly a wall rose from the river. A wall of water broke from its natural course and surged towards the snake. The water caught the great serpent in the mouth, filling its throat. The snake choked on the liquid and began throwing its head about violently.
Fyn used the precious seconds of the snake’s distraction to grab Stybs from the river. They made their way to the other side and around the next hill, not stopping until they were out of sight of the snake. The thrashing of the great serpent still reached their ears, but Fyn didn’t know how much longer that was going to last.
“We have to keep moving!” he whispered intensely.
Stybs, his eyes wide with fright, shook out a nod.
Fyn hoped his friend, his brother, was okay, but that wasn’t something he could deal with right now. Fyn led them away from the hill, and they moved as fast as they could though the wet grass that whipped at their faces and clung to their skin. The rain battered down at them from above, and in their frantic escape, Fyn had not only lost their only pack but also, all sense of direction. They could have been heading back east and he wouldn’t have even known it. But if the snake was after them there was nothing else they could do. They had to keep moving.
“We should never have left home!” Stybs suddenly shouted over the rain.
Fyn glanced at his brother. Maybe he’s right. But we can’t give up now.